![a post showing Moyo OKediji art piece](http://moyookedijicdn.gbefunwacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AUGUST-27.jpg)
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![ÀKÒDÌ ÒRÌṢÀ](http://moyookedijicdn.gbefunwacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/JULY-10.jpg)
ÀKÒDÌ ÒRÌṢÀ
The first report (summer 2018)
Yesterday, July 5, 2018.
ÀKÒDÌ ÒRÌṢÀ
I was arrested by the Nigerian Police yesterday.
To be fair to them, they were angry with my new building, the ÀKÒDÌ ÒRÌṢÀ, in Ile Ife. The police landed in trucks, arms, uniforms, and plain clothes to storm the construction site. There were about ten workers at the site when the police came. The previous day when the police arrived the workers fled into the surrounding bushes, abandoning their tools, unused building materials and the entire construction area.
![ENGLISHMAN IN BENIN CITY, 1981 (Part Thirty-One)](http://moyookedijicdn.gbefunwacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SEP-28.jpg)
ENGLISHMAN IN BENIN CITY, 1981 (Part Thirty-One)
Gina sat on the floor by the doorstep waiting for us when we returned late to Benin City from Iludun. I didn’t she was sitting there until the headlamps lit up the spot where she was and Felicia said, “Hey, is that not Gina?”
It had been a long day spent mostly on the road and it took me a minute to adjust my mind to what was happening. I was exhausted from hours of driving on rough roads to and fro Iludun, Mama Rufus’s place.
![Obituary](http://moyookedijicdn.gbefunwacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/APRIL-20.jpg)
Obituary
Oladejo Okediji, 1929-2019.
Death knocked on the door, ko ko ko ko; ko ko ko ko.
My father got up from the bed and went to the door and, very boldly, opened the door, saying, “Here I am. I’m ready for your very worst.”
Death: It’s not my fault. It’s just a job. This is what I’m paid to do.
Baba: I understand. Do it. Let’s get it over with.
![Williams Shakespeare, “King Charles III,” Act 1 Scene 1, (#2).](http://moyookedijicdn.gbefunwacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SEPT-16.jpg)
Williams Shakespeare, “King Charles III,” Act 1 Scene 1, (#2).
KING CHARLES:
Behold! Oh, Apparition.
If you must speak for your people, do it now. Or remove back to whence you came. It is night and Camilla and I long for the comfort of our bed.
EGUNGUN:
Address me by my name, I already told you who I am.
![Exactly one year ago today.](http://moyookedijicdn.gbefunwacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/APRIL-10-1.jpg)
Exactly one year ago today.
Exactly one year ago today, my father, the venerated Yoruba writer, Oladejo Okediji, joined the ancestors. His transition proved to me the truth in the saying that death is an illusion.
One does not die.
I still see him in the house,
discuss with him in my studio,
drink with him in my parlor,
dance with him at my parties,
just as I used to.
![ENGLISHMAN IN BENIN CITY, 1981 (Part Twelve)](http://moyookedijicdn.gbefunwacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/JULY-28.jpg)
ENGLISHMAN IN BENIN CITY, 1981 (Part Twelve)
Iya Ngu stopped eating. She had not touched most of the food in front of her, and did not eat the two pieces of goat meat left in her plate after Professor Wangboje helped himself to the first one. She began to wash her hands.
“Madam,” I asked, “you are not eating the meat? It’s delicious goat meat.”